A 'gamified' system led to clinically relevant reductions for many participants

WASHINGTON -- Routine use of an interactive website or app that tracked health data and incentivized regular exercise and other healthy behaviors -- structured as a game -- was associated with significantly lower blood pressure among hypertensive participants in a 3-year study.

Nearly half of study participants with high blood pressure (≥140/90 mm Hg) at the start of the study showed meaningful reductions in their systolic blood pressure by the end.

Those who engaged in the most activity and other challenges proposed on the interactive site known as 'higi' (www.higi.com) had the greatest drops in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure over the course of the study (systolic drop of 16.2 mm Hg and diastolic drop of 10.6 mm Hg), said chief technology and medical officer for the Chicago-based venture, Khan M. Siddiqui, MD.

"What we found in our study confirms what many have felt intuitively: when individuals are armed with their health data, they can make meaningful improvements in their health that may lead to lasting behavior change," Siddiqui noted in a written press statement.

In a telephone interview with MedPage Today, he said providing an easy and inexpensive way to track blood pressure, BMI, and other important health metrics could potentially lower heart attack-, stroke-, and other lifestyle-related disease risks among the most vulnerable people in society.

Siddiqui noted that the platform includes aspects of online gaming to make the site fun to use.

Typical ways to gain points, or achievements, include checking vital signs at a health kiosk or counting steps with a commercial activity tracker. More than 50 devices, including Fitbit, Garmin, and Jawbone, can be synced to the site. Incentives offered on the site or by retailers which house the kiosks include retail discounts, gift cards, fitness gear, and even vacations.

The company has installed approximately 10,000 health station kiosks in retail stores across the country that measure ambulatory blood pressure, pulse, weight, and other health data. Data derived from the kiosks can be synced with the mobile app and website, which tracks progress in meeting fitness goals.

Measuring blood pressure regularly outside of the physician's office is now recommended for patients with hypertension because it provides a far better assessment of day-to-day blood pressure control.

The newly reported study included analysis of data from 9,926 of the health kiosks collected from September 2012 to May of 2015. Patients with initial blood pressure readings of ≥140/90 mm Hg who agreed to share their health data for research purposes were included in the analysis.

Level of engagement in strategies aimed at improving health and fitness was defined as the total number of achievements, or badges, earned using the mobile app and website interactive platform.

In all, 153,092 participants qualified for inclusion in the study. Their mean age was 52 and 56% (85,361) were male. Close to half of the patients (49%) were obese, and participants using the interactive platform earned a total of 898,130 achievements.

Participants who had greater than 20 achievements showed an average drop of systolic blood pressure of 16.2 mm Hg (P<0.01) and an average drop of diastolic blood pressure of 10.6 mm Hg (P<0.01).

More than 3 out of 4 patients (84%) who earned 20 or more achievements no longer had high blood pressure by the end of the study.

"Our findings bolster our belief that the best way to help consumers live healthier lives is to empower them with personally meaningful data, content, and rewards that make healthier choices second nature," Siddiqui said.

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